Firefighters to pull 10-tonne engine through Cork City to raise funds for Mercy hospital

Newest recruits to the Cork City Fire Brigade will pull the vintage fire engine through Cork City streets on Friday in aid of Mercy Heroes

Probationary Cork City firefighters David Higgins, Peter Spillett, Caomh McAuley, Stephen Whittey, Josh Beecher, Ronan Sheehan and Jordan Campbell announcing details of the fundraiser in aid of Mercy Heroes. Picture: Darragh Kane

Rookie firefighters are set to pull a 10-tonne vintage fire engine through Cork City to raise funds for children fighting serious illness.

The 16 newest recruits to Cork City Fire Brigade hope to raise thousands of euro along the way for the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) Foundation’s Teens and Young Adult Appeal, with all funds going to support young patients through the challenges serious illness like cancer brings.

Peter Spillett, one of the 16 probationary firefighters who joined the brigade in February, said the challenge they face pulling the 1949 Dennis Wheel Escape fire engine through the streets of Cork on Friday will be easy in comparison to what those brave young patients and their families face.

“Our symbolic journey is a tribute to the resilience of these young patients facing the toughest battles of their lives, and we are proud to support Mercy Heroes and highlight the cause and raise funds,” he said.

“And for some of us, the connection with MUH is personal.

“We’ve been training for 18 months to get into the fire service and we’ve been doing some additional training for this. And we will have a rope and rigging system set up, and we’ll have harnesses to help us pull it along.” 

Peter has a strong family connection to the city’s fire service — his older brother Dave is currently a senior fire officer and their father Adrian, who retired as third officer in 2012, turned out on the vintage fire engine’s last call-out shortly after he joined the fire service as a young recruit.

People can support the probationary firefighters by donating to their bucket collection at any stage of their journey through Cork City on Friday.

The probationary firefighters will set off in full firefighting gear from Cork City Fire Brigade’s headquarters on Anglesea Street at 10am on Friday and make their way slowly, pulling the vintage fire engine behind them towards Parnell Place and onto Oliver Plunkett Street.

They will then make their way up to the Grand Parade, right onto St Patrick’s Street, left onto Lavitt’s Quay, and down to Opera Lane, before they will head, via Academy Street and St Patrick’s Street for Daunt Square, with stops along the way to collect donations.

They will then head west along Washington Street before swinging right onto Wood Street, hoping to arrive outside the hospital at about 3pm.

The fundraising mission is just one example of how, throughout the month of October, schools, companies and community groups will come coming together to support Mercy Heroes, the inspiring annual initiative to support the MUH Foundation.

Deirdre Finn, interim chief executive and head of fundraising at the foundation, said fundraising efforts like this for Mercy Heroes can make such a difference in people’s lives.

“We want teenagers and young adults being treated in the Mercy to get back to enjoying their lives and fulfilling their hopes and dreams like every young person deserves,” she said.

“We are grateful to Cork City Fire Brigade for supporting Mercy Heroes once again and highlighting the importance of this.” 

People can support the probationary firefighters by donating to their bucket collection at any stage of their journey through Cork City on Friday.

And you can donate to the Mercy Heroes campaign online or register to support the cause  here.